<meta name="description" content="538th.org - This is a page honoring those men that served in Vietnam with the 538th LCC and 35thLCT, Their faces, etched in my mind, from photographs of a time long ago,...they stood side by side, tramping through the mud, brushing off the dust. The sound of the diesel engines, could be heard for miles, ...as they cleared the jungles and highways in their well precisioned ballet. A bond of brotherhood that time has not shaken, shared memories rekindles, taking them back to the time, they were young,...so very very young. Their voices reveal emotions as each remembers a buddy, shares a story,...or is lost in silence....These are the men of the 538th LCC

The Benefits of Becoming a Firefighter From A Marine's Perspective

Marines serve our country where they are needed the most, be it in the barracks stationed in a foreign land, or at an outpost designed for keeping peace within the territory. You can say that with their heightened senses, their special training and their dedication, a marine is perfectly at home on the frontlines. Or, as a firefighter.

The question lies herein: when these skilled individuals come home, where will they be needed, and where can they be the most productive? Marines have been conditioned to be always "on", meaning they are unconsciously alert and their eyes are almost always scanning the immediate area for danger. They can keep this up for more than 8 hours or more at a time. See the similarities between a Marine and a firefighter?

Of course, that doesn't mean that they don't know how to have fun. Marines are also human beings, meaning they do love a party every now and then with their loved ones, and have their own hobbies to keep them preoccupied while they are off-duty.

For instance, they could further hone their cooking, a vital survival skill as they wait for the sirens to blare at a fire station. Instead of prepping those ready-cook meals, the marine can take their time and learn the basics of cooking at leisure. They could further build up on cooking as they wish; with enough practice, they can turn those simple meals into four or five course delectable masterpieces their girlfriends or wives would love!

Marines are perfectly fit and their skillset perfectly matches that of a firefighter. When you think firefighter, you think physically fit, good-looking individuals either in or out of uniforms. It's part of their job- they need to be able to run, climb, break down doors and windows, carry fully-grown individuals efficiently and do everything they can to save lives. They need to be able to carry fireman tools that weigh a ton, or direct a stream of water to strategic fire points.

Firefighters not only rely on their physical capabilities, but their mental capacity as well. They are trained to have a clear mind at all times and not to panic even in the face of overwhelming odds. Focus and concentration has to be kept at high levels until the ordeal is over- they have to, because one slip or minute error can cost significant damage or loss of life. They are trained to be able to make quick, logical decisions that would benefit the many instead of only themselves, selfless acts carried out with great purpose.

One thing that's most noticeable about firefighters in particular is how they bring about a close bond within their community, especially in the fire station. Camaraderie here is very tangible- all firemen (and women) are buddies, somewhat akin to family by the way they attend each other's major events such as weddings, children's birthdays and even minor ones such as simple weekend barbecues. Brotherhood is celebrated, enjoyed and forged. Why? because their job type requires explicit trust and sharing responsibilities in terms of public service.

Marines will be right at home in a fire station. Instead of wearing camouflage suits, they wear firemen suits and carry equipment such as axes and hoses. They can share their stories and start to build up on a relationship that goes beyond the four corners of the fire station. They can wind down with a relaxing game of pool, or find their intellectual pursuits by quietly reading a book while propped up on a chair. What they usually do on downtime at a barracks, they can also do at the firehouse. So instead of having to acclimatize themselves trying to relax inside the house, they can transition from living on constant alert to a facility that mimics a soldier's resthouse, complete with recreation and like-minded individuals.

Almost all the benefits provided here prove that becoming a firefighter is a natural extension of a hardworking Marine's life when they finally come home from military service. The transition from Marine to firefighter is virtually seamless, and the bottom line is that some vets are searching for a career that carries a certain sense of service to the public. The sense of safety is further multiplied in a citizen's point of view, simply because we know that we can trust a Marine to do their duty 100% of the time.

Welcome Home!!!!!

If you have any information or questions about the 538th LCC or 35th LCT or any information about anyone that served with these companies, , please contact us through the links below.

The 538th Engineer Co. (LC) was attached to the 299th Engineer Battalion. Click on the picture below to view the pictures of the 538th.

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During the summer of 2000, Roger Briggs began his journey to locate the men of the 538th Engineer Company (LC) with a list of 12 names and a dream. By November of 2002, 150 men had been located and two reunions were held. The dream continues on through the men, that he brought back together, and the memory of: